A DNA analysis conducted by an examiner for the defense of a man convicted in the 1966 murder of a family of four in Shizuoka Prefecture has shown the victims' blood DNA types were not found on five pieces of clothing that he allegedly was wearing at the time of the crime, his lawyers said.
But the examiner for the prosecutors countered it can't be ruled out that the DNA types on the convicted man's clothing and those found on the victims' clothing may be from the same person, which means the Shizuoka District Court may end up questioning both examiners.
The result of the analysis by the defense side is expected to give a boost to the bid for a retrial of Iwao Hakamada, 75, who is on death row. However, the conflicting outcome could prolong the court's consideration of whether to reopen the case. (Japan Times)
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